Words fail us (or is it just me) . . . they slip through my fingers . . . In moments when I need to express myself most, words seem to be “present/absent”, ever blurred and changing. There seems to be something about those big moments – death, war, loss, love, seperation – that challenge and conquer the word! Maybe the silence and presencce rises to their true meaning . . .

So I write about smaller moments, instances that I can nail down with the pen (too much philosophising, perhaps!) . . . Or maybe I can write about what others wrote / created / dreamt up! . . . that seems to be as sophisticated as my words stand to be for now . . .

Art reflects on various takes on the mundane. In addition, in the case of photographer Lalla Essaydi, art explores the relationship between context and identity. In this series of captivating photographs, the artist seems to me to be exploring the creation of gender and perception through cultural coding.

The words, letters, traditional garments seem to invent and construct our understanding of what it means to be a female / “woman”. So much so, that in some photographs it seems difficult to tell the difference/limit lines between the model/female and the context around her.

On yet another deeper level of analysis, the photographs comment on the traditionally “quiet” female. While the female is silent, calmly leaning and smiling without saying anything, the words and patterns on her body lend her an ability, though limited, to speak and express herself. Or do they? These provocative pieces offer the chance of interesting questions and discussions.

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(Note: This article was originally published in 2016. Due to a server crash in 2018, it was deleted and reposted.)

This “newness” enables us to re-examine and rethink our relationship to the mundane and daily. Shafie’s representations suggest to us a need to rethink our daily lives, seeing them with new eyes.

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(Note: This article was originally published in 2016. Due to a server crash in 2018, it was deleted and reposted.)

]]>http://crystalcarnival.com/?feed=rss2&p=11800‘Loud Art’ at Naila Art Galleryhttp://crystalcarnival.com/?p=1164
http://crystalcarnival.com/?p=1164#respondSat, 17 Oct 2015 20:52:17 +0000http://crystalcarnival.com/?p=1164After their groundbreaking success in Khobar in 2012, Loud Art and Nuqat celebrated again with an exhibition this time in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The exhibition, which took place at Naila Art Gallery on October 20th showcased artwork under the theme “culture shock”. The event was attended by art enthusiasts and collectors alike, as well as the media. Here is some of the artwork that we enjoyed and wanted to share with you.

“One Million Hands Together” by Om kalthoom AlAlawi

By: Ramah AlHusseini

“Not Always So Serious” by Noorah Kareem

Learn more about Naila Art Gallery on their website, or follow them on Instagram.

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(Note: This article was originally published in 2015. Due to a server crash in 2018, it was deleted and reposted.)

Anyone who has ever gone to a yoga studio can relate to realizing that the word yoga encapsulates many, many different styles.Although the word yoga is used very loosely, more experienced yogis and yoginis are more likely to ask what type of yoga you practice.Something I was intrigued to learn is that the broad yoga spectrum spans from more “yang” forms of yoga to more “yin” forms of yoga. So, what is yang and what is yin? The terms originate from the ancient Chinese, the Daoists, who observed patterns of opposites or complementary forces which are interdependent and present in all existence.For example, yang corresponds to the sun, while yin represents the moon. Yang is masculine, bright, active, hot and yin is feminine, dark, passive and cold in nature.

Some examples of yang-like forms of yoga are the widely known Vinyasa, Jivamukti, Ashtanga and Power Yoga practices.These practices are dynamic, involving repetitive movements that heat up the body. Yin Yoga, on the other hand, is a practice of stillness. It is a passive style of yoga where the intention is to allow the muscles to remain cool in order to target the deeper connective tissues of the body. Yin Yoga is a simple practice but rest assured it is a practice that offers a long list of energetic, mental/emotional and physical benefits!

What I have noticed about Yin Yoga is how much you are encouraged to adapt the practice to suit your body. There is an overarching attitude of acceptance that seems much needed in today’s society. Not surprisingly, Yin Yoga is becoming more and more popular in the yoga world, and Crystal Carnival was lucky enough to have an interview with Yin Yoga instructor Jo Ishiguro, who teaches in Paris.

Jo explained that there are three principles to the Yin Yoga practice:

1) Appropriate depth (also known as playing your edge)

“The point is not to go to your maximum edge, but instead to find the middle path. Be where you feel some resistance in your body – your just right edge. Discomfort is normal, sharp or painful sensations are signs that you have gone too far.”

2) Stillness

“Once you come to your appropriate edge, resolve to be still. Explore what stillness feels like for you and allow yourself to settle into the experience of your breath and your body.”

3) Time

“Instead of holding the pose for 5 or 10 breaths, we stay in the posture for 5 or even 10 minutes. We need to give our body time to soak up the stress of the posture.”

“Following these principles can bring you to new places within yourself and your body, sometimes posing new and unexpected challenges, while leading you to experience many physiological, mental, emotional and energetic benefits. When I practice, I find it helpful to ask myself, ‘how can I embody a spirit of acceptance and surrender toward each of the 3 guiding Yin Yoga principles?’”

One of the most interesting parts of Yin Yoga is realizing how different everyone’s body is naturally.In Jo’s classes, she demonstrates how different people are flexible in different ways.It’s amazing to look around the class and see how some people can fully do a posture without any practice at all, while others take years.Jo’s classes show that this is because different bodies have different limitations.

“Our bodies are far more unique than we think when we get down to our bone structure, proportions, and other aspects of our anatomical structure. Thankfully, within the Yin Yoga practice there are different postures to choose from that work the same area of the body and there are many ways to modify each posture to target these tissues at just the right depth.

“When taking a Yin Yoga class, one of the objectives is to place a place a healthy stress on the ‘yin’ tissues of your body (the deeper connective tissues, ligaments, joints and even bones). This comes back to the 1st principle of Yin Yoga, explained above, playing your edges. By paying attention to what you feel when you come into a pose, you learn to identify your body’s natural limitations. During my Yin Yoga teacher training, Bernie Clark would often say, ‘if you can’t smile, you’ve gone too far.’”

“When I teach, I often use my body to demonstrate that we all have limitations and that’s okay. The essence of Yin Yoga is acceptance and surrender. I have found the practice can be instrumental in acknowledging and accepting your own body, just the way it is. Taking a modification is often a sign that you know your body well. You understand the importance of doing what’s best for you despite what the person beside you or the rest of the class is doing. This can be both a modification in going deeper in a posture or a modification to ease up and lessen the intensity. Your body, your practice!”

Jo teaches Yin Yoga, Vinyasa and Yoga Nidra in Paris.She gives private, corporate, and group lessons, all in English.She also frequently holds workshops and other events.

http://www.joishiguro.com/

http://www.bigappleyogafrance.com

https://www.facebook.com/joishiguroyoga

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(Note: This article was originally published in 2015. Due to a server crash in 2018, it was deleted and reposted.)

L’Hermione, an identical reproduction of the Lafayette fleet of ships makes its historical return to French coasts! The ship crosses the Atlantic for the first time since the 18th century to arrive at the port of Brest, North of France in Bretagne.

Historical ties between France and the United States:

The original fleet of ships were among ones sent by General Lafayette in 1780 to aid in the American war of Independence. Lafayette’s 18th century ‘freedom frigate’ fought with the American civil army against the British colonizing forces in the North America.

Marquis Lafayette and George Washington

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(Note: This article was originally published in 2015. Due to a server crash in 2018, it was deleted and reposted.)

]]>http://crystalcarnival.com/?feed=rss2&p=11530Nasiba Hafiz: Exclusive Interviewhttp://crystalcarnival.com/?p=1133
http://crystalcarnival.com/?p=1133#respondMon, 01 Jun 2015 20:43:55 +0000http://crystalcarnival.com/?p=1133Nasiba Hafiz is a Saudi designer based in Jeddah, whose name and style has been strongly emerging on the fashion scene during the past two years. A creative, vibrant designer whose pieces remind you of no one else’s! Crystal Carnival had the chance to interview the Nasiba, and ask her about her inspirations, her journey in the world of fashion and photography, and her future plans.

Looking through her archive of photoshoots and pin-up posters, you cannot help but feel curious. What inspired her, and where does she get her ideas and designs from? Nasiba grew up in a particularly artistic, and serious academic home. Her father was involved in the publishing world, and her mother was a serious fashion lover whose passion left Nasiba with a sizable amount of vintage to draw inspiration from! Growing up with brothers and sisters, she was also fortunate to be in an artistic atmosphere. She relates endless hours watching old Egyptian cinema, a tradition that would come to be the pillar of her second ‘tribal’ collection (2012).

She completed her studies at the London College of Fashion specializing in Fashion Photography and Styling. She took her time entering before becoming a designer, working for nearly 10 years as a fashion photographer and stylist in Lebanon and Saudi Arabia. Her first collection finally came in 2012, limited edition Kaftans launched for the Ramadan season.

Her second came in 2013, the ‘Tribal Collection’ inspired by the glamour and allure of classic black and white Egyptian cinema. This allure of old 40’s and 50’s glamour would revisit in the following year in her ‘50’s Collection’. This collection was inspired by old Hollywood and more generally by 5à’s women’s fashion. Accentuated waists and flowing skirts added a flirty, classic and all round feminine allure to the pieces. This collection also introduced the very popular polka-dot designs.

The collection drew lots of attention with its pin-up ad campaign, featuring Nasiba herself as the cover girl.Shot by Nour Kelani, the style of the photographs successfully reflect what Nasiba Hafiz tries to communicate in her pieces.

Arriving in Paris in 2015, Nasiba shot her latest ‘Harajuku Collection’, inspired by the famous beauty of Japanese nature, and the street styles of Japan’s popular fashion district. The pieces remind us of cherry blossoms and spring flowers. The kimono is featured prominently in the collection that is mostly comprised of young, fun designs. We also see lots of layering, poofy skirts and colourful tops. The photo-shoot was done in Paris in the Boho-chic streets of Le Marais in Paris’s 10th arrondissement.

Her upcoming collection, which is set for October/November 2015 is still under wraps, though Nasiba did tell us it will be inspired by Music !! We can’t wait to see what it could possibly be!

Nasiba Hafiz’s collections will soon be available on her upcoming website, http://www.nasibahafiz.com . You can also buy her collections in Jeddah at “The Store” at ‘Home Grown Market’, as well as at ‘Sabine Boutique’. She will also be present in Riyadh during Saudi Design Week this year. Her collections are available in Kuwait at ‘Nass Boutique’.

An artist of academic origins, Lalita Lebbaz first started as a doctoral researcher in Art and Cultural Studies in Paris before fully devoting herself to painting. Born in Germany and raised in Algiers, she moved to Paris as a student at the age of 22. After studying art and sculpture at the collège Alexandre Dumas, she focused on painting at the Université Paris-Sorbonne.

Lalita’s paintings are predominantly of the impressionistic school, marked by brushes of free colour taking over hard lines and contours. She seeks to communicate through her work, while simultaneously keeping the work open enough to be understood by the viewer as they please. This is the reason why she leaves most if not all of her paintings untitled, “I avoid using titles,” she says, “I fear I will constrain the audience’s understanding of what they are looking at. I prefer to let people be free to understand each painting as they wish.”

Emotions and inspiration:

Her work is always produced in a series of themed paintings. She explains: “When you produce a series in a work of art, it allows you to follow the development of a specific theme or idea. But also, there is the inspiration which is the motor behind it all. This inspiration tries to find routes to be expressed and exposed, and the series allows it to be expressed in various shapes, methods and facets.” In addition to inspiration, emotion drives her creativity: “Behind inspiration, we find emotion, which is the second motor that drives artistic expression. And one cannot go without the other.”

A spiritual journey:

Painting and spirituality go hand in hand for Lebbaz, who finds that creativity can spring from a moment of calm and clarity or other times from confusion and chaos. When she finds inspiration, she often isolates herself for days on end in her atelier. “For me painting is a spiritual search, things can change as we go deeper. But there’s always a connecting line that changes its form but not its essence.”

Lalita Lebbaz will be showcasing her paintings next at a private exposition in Paris this Spring.

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(Note: This article was originally published in 2015. Due to a server crash in 2018, it was deleted and reposted.)

]]>http://crystalcarnival.com/?feed=rss2&p=11200Art Jewels: G. Kabirskihttp://crystalcarnival.com/?p=1108
http://crystalcarnival.com/?p=1108#respondSun, 01 Feb 2015 21:24:00 +0000http://crystalcarnival.com/?p=1108G. Kabirski brand offers designs created by German Kabirski, an “out of the box” designer bent on creating jewellery that is defined by being exceedingly unconventional and ‘rugged’. Above all, he seeks to create precious unique masterpieces that reflect both the harmony and the raw senses of nature.

Kabirski’s artistic sense skips conventional definitions of beautiful and ugly, exiting into a free space where experimentation and raw instincts rein. He draws on concepts from nature, instincts of the wild and overpowering forces of the sea and air above. His jewellery emerges as a reflection of those concepts and this intention.

Most importantly to its owner, Kabirski’s art “doesn’t try to make you form ideas, it merely reflects your own ideas and images. That’s why his work feels so personal. But to feel that, you need to be yourself. Not living according to someone else’s empty concepts, not getting used to common standards, not becoming another brick in the fashion industry wall. Kabirski’s jewellery is like a distorted mirror, the one true egoists and narcissists cannot take their eyes off.”

Kabirski “uses exotic wood (African, ebony, mahogany, snakewood), and plays with silver textures.” He “combines gems with everything, from silver, gold and wood to leather and reptile skeletons. The end result is quite far from traditional jewellery.”